What is Appointment Eligibility? Your appointment eligibility determines the type of job 

announcements for which you may apply. The “Who May Apply” section on each announcement 

defines the type of applicant who is considered to be in the area of consideration for the

announcement.

In some instances the areas of consideration may be restricted to applicants from a particular local 

commuting area. This term is defined as the geographic area surrounding a work site that 

encompasses the localities where people live and reasonably can be expected to travel back and forth 

daily to work based on the generally held expectations of the local community. 

Appointment Eligibility Definitions

Reinstatement: I was formerly employed as a federal civilian on a permanent competitive appointment,

but I am not a current permanent federal employee. Reinstatement allows you to reenter the Federal

competitive service workforce without competing with the public. Reinstatement eligibility also enables

you to apply for Federal jobs open only to status candidate. Additional information may be found at 

OPM Hiring Authorities. 

ICTAP: I am a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Non-DoD federal

agency (e.g., IRS, VA, Dept. of Labor, etc.) in the same local commuting area of the vacancy. I have a

current (or last) performance rating of record of at least fully successful or the equivalent. Applicants

eligible under ICTAP are provided priority selection for vacancies within the local commuting area for 

which you apply and are well qualified. Additional information may be found at ICTAP. 

Individuals with Disabilities: I have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or

more major life activities. You must have a certification statement from a Vocational Rehabilitation

Service (state or private), Department of Veterans Affairs, a licensed medical professional (e.g., a

Physician or other medical professional duly certified by a State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S.

territory, to practice medicine); or any Federal agency, State agency or agency of the District of

Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits. Additional information may be 

found at USAJOBS.

30% or More Disabled Veteran: I am a disabled veteran rated by the Department of Veterans 

Affairs (VA) as having a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more; or a 

disabled veteran who retired from active military service with a disability rating of 30 percent or 

more; AND my discharge was under conditions other than dishonorable. NOTE: If you respond 

"yes" to this statement, you must submit a copy of your DD Form 214 documenting final military 

discharge, release or retirement (your DD Form 214 must reflect the dates of service, character of 

discharge, and time lost, if any) and an official statement, dated 1991 or later, from the Dept. of 

Veterans Affairs (VA), or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying that you have a serviceAppointment Eligibilities

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connected disability of 30% or more along with your application/resume package. Additional 

information may be found at FedHireVets. 

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998, as amended (VEOA): I am a veteran who served 

substantially 3 or more years of continuous active duty in the military - OR - is a preference eligible;

AND my discharge was performed under honorable conditions. VEOA is a competitive service

appointing authority that can only be used when filling permanent, competitive service positions. It

cannot be used to fill excepted service positions. It allows veterans to apply to announcements that are

only open to so called "status" candidates, which means "current competitive service employees. 

Additional information may be found at FedHireVets. 

Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA): I am a veteran who served on active duty in the Armed

Forces during a war declared by Congress, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge

has been authorized; or a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces, participated in

a military operation for which the Armed Forces Service Medal was awarded; or I have separated from 

active duty within the past 3 years; or I am a disabled veteran AND separated under honorable

conditions. VRA is an excepted authority that allows agencies, to appoint eligible veterans. You can be

appointed under this authority at any grade level up to and including a GS-11 or equivalent. Additional 

information may be found at FedHireVets. 

Re-Employed Annuitant: Reemployed Annuitants: "In accordance with section 9902(h) of title 5,

United States Code, annuitants reemployed in the Department of Defense shall receive full annuity and

salary upon appointment. They shall not be eligible for retirement contributions, participation in the Thrift

Savings Plan, or a supplemental or re-determined annuity for the reemployment period. Discontinued

service Retirement annuitants (i.e., retired under section 8336(d) (1) or 8414(b) (1) (A) of title 5, United

States Code) appointed to the Department of Defense may elect to be subject to retirement provisions

of the new appointment as appropriate. Additional information may be found at WHS Directives (See

DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300). 

Interchange Agreements: I am currently on a permanent position which is equivalent to at least the

(grade of the position) level (or higher) in the federal service; however, I am an employee for a federal

agency which has an Interchange Agreement with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, or with a

federal agency covered under other special appointing authorities or agreements (e.g., NAF, TSA, U.S.

Postal Service, FAA, etc.). An agency may noncompetitively appoint an employee covered by an

interchange agreement to a career or career-conditional appointment for which OPM has entered into

agreements. More information on agencies covered under Interchange Agreements is at: Additional 

information may be found at Competitive Hiring Authorities. 

• Non-Appropriated Funds: A person currently serving on a NAFI or AAFES position without time

limitation or have been involuntarily separated from such appointment without personal cause

within the preceding year. Must be or have been serving continuously for at least 1 year in a 

NAFI or AAFES position. May be appointed only to permanent positions based on this authority.

Military Spouse Non-Competitive Appointment Authority: I am the spouse of a member of the

Armed Forces who has been issued orders for a permanent change of station (PCS) and I am indicated

on the PCS orders; and I have been married to the military member on, or prior to the date of my

spouse's PCS orders; and I am relocating with my spouse to the new duty location; and I have not been

appointed using this authority under these orders. -OR- I am the spouse of a member of the Armed

Forces who retired with a disability rating at the time of retirement of 100 percent; or retired or separated

from the Armed Forces and have a disability rating of 100 percent from the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. -

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OR- I am the un-remarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while in active

duty status. (NOTE 1: Spouses are eligible for a noncompetitive appointment under this authority for a

maximum of 2 years from the date of: 1) the service member's permanent change of station orders; 2)

Documentation verifying the member of the armed forces is 100 percent disabled; or 3) Documentation

verifying the member of the armed forces was killed while on active duty. NOTE 2: For current military

spouse's this appointment authority is limited to the geographical area of the PCS orders and is limited

to one permanent appointment per PCS orders. For spouses of 100 percent disabled veterans or

widows/widowers this authority is not limited to a geographical area and there is not a limit to the 

number of appointments under this authority. This authority allows agencies to appoint a military spouse

without competition. Additional information may be found at FedHireVets.

Executive Order (EO) 12721: I was employed overseas as an Appropriated Fund employee and am

eligible to apply in accordance with EO 12721. NOTE: If you indicate "yes" for this question, you must

submit all the required documents as shown in this announcement under "Required Documents," along

with your application/resume package. Additional information may be found at Dept. of State. 

Military Spouse Preference: I am the spouse of an active duty military member (sponsor) of the US

Armed Forces who accompanied my military sponsor on a permanent change of station (PCS) move.

Military Spouse preference is a Department of Defense program applicable to positions being filled both

in the continental United States (registration in PPP is required) and at overseas locations. For more

information contact your local Department of Defense personnel office. Additional information may be 

found at DLA Military Spouse . 

Family Members: I am the spouse or unmarried child (including stepchildren, adopted children, and

foster children) not more than 23 years of age residing with a US citizen civilian employee (sponsor),

who accompanied my civilian sponsor on a permanent change of station (PCS) move.

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